The draft law defines regulations on registration of NGOs and means of control over their activities. It was submitted to the Duma earlier this month by a group of deputies representing all factions in parliament.

In a statement, human rights activists today said the law provides for the "unjustified tightening of control over all Russian nongovernmental organizations, regardless of the area they are working in."

The statement also says severe restrictions on foreign NGOs will make their activities in Russia virtually impossible.

The statement was signed by a number of leading human rights activists including representatives of the Moscow Helsinki Group, the Memorial group, and the Union of Soldiers' Mothers Committees.